Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Bates couldn’t control his laughter any longer but it didn’t last long. “I’m not sure if I want to ask what keeps your mind occupied or not, my curious boy.”
“Not.” Cash was a very dim light as he frowned and glared at me. “It’s probably dirty or scary.”
“Or both.” Messing him was so much fun.
His eyes got wider, and whatever went through his head was fun because he turned to Bates for help. “It’s your job to save me from him.”
“I’ve got a lot of jobs when it comes to our relationship. I think I should be taking notes.” Bates looked very pleased with himself when he made Cash roll his eyes. “And one thing I know I need to be taking notes on is our list for the next apartment, but…”
He shook his head when Cash’s worries started to come back. “No overthinking this, my light.”
They were so cute.
“Logically, I will be done with my program in May and you guys have one more year before you graduate with your bachelor’s.” Nodding toward me, Bates didn’t forget me. “And then Gareth will probably go right into his master’s.”
Yep, that was still the plan.
“So, that means I will need another place to live.” He shrugged like there was no way around it. “There is nothing wrong with me picking out a new apartment based on what we’ll need in the future. If you guys got scholarships like I’m pretty sure Cash said you did, then you probably have to live on campus for those.”
Another good point.
And he kept making even more of them before Cash could find something else to worry about.
“That means we’ve got more than a year before living together full time is even possible, right?” He waited until we both nodded to continue. “That gives us plenty of time to run into problems and sort them out, and to figure out what conversations we’ll need to have.”
“I think we’re doing pretty good already.” But I looked over at Cash just to clarify. “But we’re not living together yet, we’re just visiting a lot.”
He was a brat and rolled his eyes, but Bates was helpful and nodded.
“Yes, just visiting.” Bates smiled even though Cash was being dramatic and sighed. “This is also our test run to figure out the problems we’ll run into. Nothing about our current dynamics frustrates me except when I have to sleep on my own.”
He gave a very good imitation of Brady pouting, but as Cash and I both laughed, he continued his Dom Bates lecture. “What would frustrate me is finding an apartment that’s too far from you guys and too small for you to move into it later. I have no desire to live somewhere and then move again. Living in the apartment here by the school made a lot of sense, but once I’m done it would make me nuts to move that fast again.”
Ugh.
He had another good point.
“Cash likes staying in one place, so he’ll agree with you on that once he stops worrying.” I was a very good partner and ignored Cash’s glare. “Longer leases also mean you can save money.”
Bates flashed a quick grin but he did a wonderful job of staying on track. “Yes, and thank you for the reminder that money discussions need to go on the list too. See, lots of conversations before we have a permanent living together situation.”
Even more than the spanking stuff.
I was never going to make it.
But it looked like we might’ve solved enough of Cash’s frustrations that I’d get food, so I wasn’t going to complain.
Chapter 17
Cashel
Yep, still felt stupid…but at least I wasn’t frustrated any longer?
“Can I ask about commutes from the next apartment or would it be pushy?” The fact that Gareth was being serious was the only thing that kept me from either rolling my eyes or laughing.
He frowned, nearly turning around in his seat to be able to see us all as Bates pulled into the parking lot. “How far ahead does he need to start looking for a new apartment? I feel like that’s a real-world grown-up thing that I should already know the answer to.”
Oh, um…
“I want to say he should already be looking?” I wasn’t sure about that answer until I saw Bates give a sheepish shrug as he parked the car. “Yep, that look said he’s either already started looking or he’s really behind.”
Bates grinned and decided an immediate confession was best. “Both.”
Bates’s answer made Gareth laugh, but he didn’t let it get him off track. “So explain both, please. Now I don’t know what Cash should be worried about.”
So I was doing the worrying for both of us?
That made a lot of sense, actually.
“Well, I initially got behind with looking because somehow the first semester just flew by and then once I started thinking about looking and figuring out my next steps, I met you guys.” Unbuckling, Bates leaned over and gave Gareth a quick kiss and me a wink.